Isaac p



y|. P. TIVCE.A

VYITNESSES:

AM PHaroi "Haan/Pme ca M x (cesan/vel? Peacess) INVENTOR:

UNITED STATES PATENT Ormeav ISAAC P. TICE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT liti STEAM VACUUM-PUMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,344', dated February 25, 1873.

a vacuum is formed by the condensation of steam in a suitable chamber, and water raised into said vacuum by atmospheric pressure is subsequently expelled by the pressure of steam, and afterward condensed to form a vacuum for the repetition of the operation. The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the steam-valve of such apparatus and its passages and appurtenances whereby the operation of the valve is effected by the alternate action of atmospheric pressure and the pressureof the steam. It also consists in the combinatlon with the outlet-pipe ot a pipe leading from the lower portion ofthe chamber to the outlet-pipe some distance above the top ofthe chamber, and a perforated coil arranged in the top portion of the chamber and connected with the outlet-pipe, whereby, at the completion of the stroke, water from the outlet-pipe ows back through the coil, and is sprayed into the chamber, and condenses the steam therein and forms a vacuum.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure lis a central vertical section of an apparatus made according to my invention, and Fig. 2 is a horn izontal section of the water-cut-oi' pipe on a larger scale than Fig. 1. Y

A is a steam-generator, which is or may be of ordinary construction. B is a chamber, of cylindrical form, which is supported on a stand, b. Said chamber has arranged within it aloose oat, K, consisting of two plates of suitable material, secured together at a short distance apart to contain water between them. They separate the steam in the upper part of the chamber from the cold water in the lower part. A 'perforated coil, L, is situated in the top portion of the chamber, and communicates by a branch, c, with the outl et-pipe, said check-valve being capable of being opened only toward the chamber. It communicates with an inlet-pipe, D, furnished with a checkvalve opening toward the chamber, and an outlet-pipe, E, likewise furnished with a check-valve closing toward the. chamber, and has arranged at a short distance above it a valve-cylinder, F, having a hole, a, inits bottom open to the atmosphere, and having leading to its upper portion from the top of the chamber B a pipe, Gr. His another pipe, whose upper end projects through the side of the valve-cylinder into a valve, I, lwhich slides vertically within the valve-cylin- ,der, and is slotted to move past the end ot' the 'pipe H.- In the bottom of the valve-cylinder there is the hole or opening a. A pipe, J, from a steam-generator leads to the interior of the valve, its end being opposite the bottom of said valve. Mis what 1 term the cut-oft pipe, which extends into the bottom part of the chamber, and is bentat the end to form a short arm, t', parallel with the main portion of the pipe. Surrounding the end portion of this is a scroll of sheet metal, which coils outward from the pipe, and is closed at the bottom; but in the latter there is a small hole, e, open to the pipe below.

The apparatus operates as follows: The chamber is first iilled with water by any convenient means, and then steam is admitted to it. Acting on the water or on the float K, which is resting on the surface, it ezpels the greater portion of the water out through the branch c into the outlet E, opening the checkvalve in the latter, and while the greater portion of the water thus passes out through c,

and thence up the outlet-pipe E, a certain quan-- tity is forced out through the cut-off pipe M into the outlet-pipe. As soon as the lower plate of the oat comes opposite the edge of the arm of the cut-off pipe, which is situated at the lowest point to which the 'chamber is ever intended to discharge, steam enters the pipe, and at its junction with the outletpipe cuts the water therein; and that portion be* low the cut-off pipe flows down the outlet-pipe into the coil, and is sprayed into the upper portion of the chamber, and thereby condenses the steam therein and forms a vacuum, into which water flows through the branch c from the inlet-pipe by atmosphericpressure. During the descent of the water, that which is contained in the lloat, and is, of course, heated by steam above it, forms an insulator between the steam above and water below it, v

and so hot water can never enter the outletn pipe; and also on the refilling of the chamber, and rising ot' the iloat, a Warm surface is presented to the steam, and the condensation of the latter is thereby greatly lessened.

The object of the scroll is to prevent the incoming water from entering the cnt-off pipe before. the steam, and thereby checking the flow of condensing-Water to the chamber.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In an apparatus oi' the character herein described, a valve constructed and arranged relatively to the chamber and connected substantially as herein described, whereby, on the completion of the discharge of the chamber, the valve is closed by the pressure of the atmosphere, and reopened by its own Weight and the pressure of steam.

i e essere 2. The combination of the vertically-sliding valve I, its cylinder F, perforated at one end for the admission of the atmosphere, steampipe J, and pipes H and G, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The cut-oft' pipe M, in combination with the vessel B, and the main outlet-pipe E, and the perforated coil or condensing-pipe L, subtantially as described, for operation as set 'orth.

4. The combination of the scroll N with the cut-off pipe M, as shown and described.

ISAAC P. TICE.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR D. KEER, SYDNEY E. SMITH. 

